Electrical jack



Nov. 28, 1961 s. GLOVIAK ETAL ELECTRICAL JACK 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 6, 1957 LIE-.E

1 CPU INVENTORS Jr/JNLEV 61.0 V/AK NICHOLAS FRANTZ /'7/v/v 6. 015m .4 TT'OPNEV Nov. 28, 1961 s. GLOVIAK ETAL 3,011,035

' ELECTRICAL JACK Filed Sept. 6, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS 5 TANLEV 6 L0 V/AK N ICHOLAS FRANTZ A TTOPNEV United States Patent 3,011,035 ELECTRICAL JACK Stanley Gloviak, Westchester, and Nicholas Frantz, Chicago, 111., assignors to Carter Parts Company, Skokie, 111., a corporation of Illinois Filed Sept. 6, 1957, Ser. No. 682,332 6 Claims. (Cl. 200-51.09)

The present invention relates to electrical jacks, and particularly to improvements in such jacks allowing advanced manufacturing and assembling operations to be used and better operating performances to be obtained.

In manufacturing electrical jacks of the type taught in the prior art, considerable difficulty is encountered in using automatic or semi-automatic means in assembling the parts of the jacks. One of the common ways of forming jacks is to assemble the various electrical elements in stacks with insulating Washers or wafers inserted between the electrical elements, and thereafter, to rivet the stacks together.

Experience has shown that this way of forming jacks does not lend itself readily to semi-automatic or automatic assembly and generally must be carried out manually. Naturally, this results in relatively higher labor costs than is desired, and increases defects in workmanship which are inherent when relying on the human element or manual labor. Thus, if the staking for the stacks should be loose, the various electrical elements will be misaligned and poor electrical connections will be obtained in use.

' Other problems inherent in many of the prior art jacks, and particularly with respect to small ones, are insufiicient gap on breaking a connection and in some instances inadequate contact pressure. These shortcomings give a less positive action, produce poor electrical connections and generally shorten the life of the jack.

With these and other problems of the prior art in mind, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved electrical jack which is constructed and arranged so that its various elements are secured or interlocked in place in a manner most effective for assembling the same and from which optimum results of the jack can be obtained in use.

It is still another object of the present invention to pro vide an improved electrical jack of the foregoing character wherein a dielectric molded plastic body is employed for mounting the various spring contact elements in a predetermined spaced relation, said body being constructed and arranged to assure that such elements will remain in their mounted positions in use.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an improved electrical jack of the foregoing character which has a single dielectric member for retaining the spring contact elements in their mounted positions and a sleeve into which a mating plug can be introduced may be clamped onto the dielectric body and member to form a simple, sturdy, unitary body.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a jack of the foregoing character wherein the clamping means includes a ground terminal as an integral part thereof and when clamped to said sleeve assures a positive connection with the mating plug.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a jack of the foregoing character wherein the molded plastic body is adapted to receive spring contact elements of a plurality of shapes and sizes thereby providing greater application and standardization of parts resulting in a lower cost of production.

It is stillanother object of the present invention to provide a jack that is characterized by the relatively few parts that are required to assemble it and in which hand adjusting is entirely eliminated.

Other objects of this invention will appear in the folice FIGURE 2 is a section taken on the line 2 2 of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the embodiment of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a bottom view of the embodiment of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE '5 is a section similar to that of FIGURE 2 of another embodiment of the present invention;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary bottom view of the embodiment of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a section of another embodiment of the present invention;

FIGURE 8 is a bottom view of the embodiment shown in FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a section of still another embodiment of the present invention; and

FIGURE [10 is a fragmentary section of still another embodiment of the invention.

Before explaining the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

Referring now to the drawings, and first to FIGURES 1 to 4, inclusive, the first embodiment of the invention will be described. The electrical jack '10 is formed from a minimum of five parts comprising the dielectric body member or insulator 12, an annular shaped insulating element 14, a U-shaped spring contact element 16, an externally threaded sleeve 18 into which a mating plug (not shown) may be inserted, and a terminal clamp 20 that is integrally secured to sleeve 18 and is clamped over the shoulders 22 of insulator 12. As will be explained with respect to other embodiments, illustrated in other figures of the drawing and described hereinafter, the insulator may be modified for the purpose of adding other stationary terminals and the shapes and numbers of spring contact elements 16 may vary.

In the embodiment of FIGURES 1 to 4, inclusive, the insulator 12 may be a molded phenolic having a central aperture 24, with slots 26 formed'in the walls of such aperture. The upper end of the insulator 12 may have one or more notches 28 extending transversely between tthe aperture 24 and outer surface. The notches are of suflicient width and depth 28 to receive a spring contact element such as. the element 16.

The spring contact element 16 is an inverted U-shaped member and straddles the wall of the insulator 12 with the intermediate or midportion of spring contact element 16 fitting into the notches 28. The one side of element 16 extends externally of the insulator 12 and has an apertured end 30 to which an electric conductor can be connected. The other side of element 16 extends into the aperture 24 and converges toward the axis of such aperture so that it will be engaged by the mating plug (not shown) when the latter is inserted through sleeve 18.

Referring to FIGURE 1, it will be observed that the intermediate portion of spring contact element 16 widens so as to be substantially as wide as notch 28. Thisassures that the element 16 will not shift'laterally. Also,

: gether.

various members together.

thiswideport-ion extends onzinto the aperture 24 until substantiallyto the bottom of insulator .12. The Wide portion issplit longitudinally into three longitudinal segments. The center one, identified by the number 32 :zforms athe spring contact arm :that is engaged "'by the imatingtplug (nottshown). The side segments 3-i fi-t into :the slots iointthe innerwall of insulator 12. This position is obtained 'by sliding these segments down into slots 26 from the top of insulator 12. Whenfuliy inisertedtonly the'free'end of spring contact .arm 62 can be moved and the contact element 16 is retained inla very stableposition.

The spring contact element 16 is held in position by -the.insulating-element 14 which seats on the top wall of insulator 12 and blocks the open upper side of the ;-'n-otch 2/8 in which-the spring. contact element 16 is fitted.

Positioned above the insulating element 14 is the sleeve .18which has a clamp terminal 2% integrally attached, as at 36. The clamp terminal .2!) has clamping portions 38 which are. folded under theshoulders 22 to lock the sleeve 18, the insulating element .14arid insulator 12 to- Theclarnp terminallil has a terminal 49 to which an electric conductor can be connected providing acpositive connection through the sleeve 18 to the mating plug (not shown).

The jack illustrated in FIGURES .1 to 4, inclusive, is a two conductor, normally open jack. A circuit between terminal 30 ands terminal in the mating plug (not shown) will be closed when the mating ,zplug (not :shown) is inserted. through sleeve 18 into engagement with spring contact element '16. i

.This jack can be assembled in variousmelatively simple'ways, either manually or by automatic or semi-autovrnaticineans. Thus, if desired, the insulator 12' can be fed from a hopper either vwith or without'the spring .contactelement in place. In-the latter case, the.spring contact:element would thereafter be insertedin place either manually or automatically. The insulating elementf14 can then be fed from another hopper onto its'normal .iposition overlying the upper end ofthe insulator 12..

Thereafter, the sleeve 18. and its terminal'clamp canbe fed from a third hopper to its proper position, after "which :21 Climbing operation .is performed locking the I As can be seen, this method 'of'assembling the parts does not require manual .set-

ting'or'adjustment of any of the parts.

Thepresent invention can be used equally as eifectively if. it-is desired to have. a two conductor, normally closed, jack. For discription of such an embodiment identified "by the referencenumber 42, attention is directed toFIG- exceptthat theliormer'has a depending or leg portion "44 on which .is secured by rivet 46 a terminal 48. The latter extends around the leg portion. 44 and forms a contact50 for normal engagement by the contact end 520i spring contact element 16a. By virtue of this arrangement a normally closed-circuit will'exist between terminals 300 and 48, and when the mating plug (not ishown) is inserted into the'jack 42, the contactlend 52 .will be deflected away from contact 50, thereby opening the circuit but simultaneously closing a circuit from the 'terminal30a through the mating plug (not shown).

In FiGURES 7 and 8 isshown another modification 54 which is quite similar to that of FIGURES 1-4, in-

clusive, differing only in that a second spring contact element 56 has been inserted in thenotc'h 28. The spring contact element 56 has a terminal end 58 to which an electric conductor may be attached.

. .FIGURE 9 shows still another embodiment similar to ,that shown inFiGURE 7 and'identified generally by the .referencenumber 60. This modification also has a sec- 0nd spring contact'element 5612 with a terminal 5% to which an electric conductor may be attached so as to provide a normally closedcircuit between terminals 48 and 58b. 7

The modification in FIGURE 10 identified generally by the reference number 68 is :the same as the embodiment of FIGURE-S5 and 6 but-additionally has a short contact spring element 56 of the type shown in the embodiment of FIGURE 7. It will be apparent that the jacks 6t and 68 differ in that the former-has a normally closed circuit through the short spring contact element, whereas the latter has the normally closed circuit through the: long or tip spring contact element.

From the foregoingdescription itis believed-apparent that the present invention canbe usedin alarge variety of :ways. Thediiierent embodiments can 'allhe assembled in the same general manner as wasdescribed in connection with theembodiment-ofFIGURES lto'4.

The various .parts are interchangeable providing greater application of such parts, and therefore, providingimproved cost economies.

Having thus described our I invention, we claim:

1.. An electrical-jack comprising an insulatorvhavinga central axial opening with at least one slot extending lengthwise in' the innerwall of said opening, a contact element; having an. intermediate portion overlying one end ofsaid-insulator with one end-of the contact'element: ex-

ternal of .the .insulator for attachment to an-electrical conductorandthe otheren'd extending into said opening,

.said axis and terminating in a radially inwardly facing vmovable electrical contact, a stationaryelectrical contact mounted on saidinsulator radially inward of said movable electrical contact and in'engagement with thelatterwhen the latter is in its normal position-so that normally, an

electric circuit will'be closed throughsaid contactelement and said stationary'electrical contact, an apertured insulating element seated on said one end of said insulator; in .registery with said opening andoverlying said .intermediate portion 'ofthe contact element, saidinsulator and said'insulating element defining between their adjacent surfaces a notch extending from said central Opening radially outwardly-to the external side of said insulater in which notch said intermediate portion is held against movement, and a sleeve-carrying at; its one end a clamp terminal, the latter clamping said-insulator'and said insulating elementtogether, said sleeve bcingin alignment withthe axis of said opening so thata plug can be inserted through said sleeve to open the normally closed circuit through said stationary electricalcontact and willclose a circuit through said contact element and the clamp terminal via said plug.

' 2. A-multi-conductor jack comprising'an insulator having a central axial opening with a-pluralityof-slotsextending lengthwise in the inner wall of said opening, the end of said insulator having a plurality of notches extending in spaced relation from the outer side of the insulator 'the axis of said opening-for electrical engagement'by -a plug, the inwardly deflected segments of said contact-elements being of differentllengths so as tonbe adaptable to engage a different portionsof said .plug, one ot'gsaid inwardlydeflected segments then being deflectedaway from said axis and terminating-in-a'radially inwardlyfacing movable electrical contact, a stationary electrical contact mounted on said insulator inward of said movable electrical contact and in engagement with the latter when the latter is in its normal position, an apertured insulating element seated on said one end of said insulator in registry with said opening and overlying said intermediate portions of the contact elements, and a sleeve carrying at its one end a clamp terminal, the latter clamping said insulator and said insulating element together.

3. An electrical jack comprising an insulator having a central axial opening, a contact element having an intermediate portion overlying one end of said insulator with one end of the contact element external of the insulator for attachment to an electrical conductor and the other end extending into said opening generally toward the axis thereof to provide a portion adapted to be engaged by an electrical plug and then extending away from the axis and terminating in a movable radially inwardly facing electrical contact, a stationary electrical contact mounted on said insulator radially inward of said movable electrical contact and in engagement with the latter when the latter is in its normal position so that normally an electric circuit will be closed through said contact element and said stationary electrical contact, an apertured insulating element seated on said one end of said insulator in registry with said opening and overlying said intermediate portion of the contact element, said insulator and said insulating element defining between their adjacent surfaces a notch extending from said central opening radially outwardly to the external side of said insulator in which notch said intermediate portion is held against movement, and a sleeve aligned with the axis of said opening and carrying a clamp, said clamp holding said insulator and insulating element together.

4. An electrical jack comprising an insulator having a central opening therein and one end wall substantially normal to the axis of said opening, said insulator having a slot formed therein extending lengthwise in the inner wall defining said opening, a contact element having an intermediate portion overlying said one end wall of. said insulator with one end of said contact element external of the insulator for attachment to an electrical conductor and the other end extending into said opening toward the other end of said insulator, said other end being split lengthwise so that one lengthwise segment fits into said slot and the other segment is deflected toward the axis of said central opening for engagement by a plug, an insulating element having a pair of opposed faces which are substantially normal to the axis of said opening and one of which is positioned on said one end wall of said insulator and over the intermediate portion of said contact element, said insulating element having an opening in registry with said central opening, said insulator and said one face of said insulating element defining between them a notch extending from said central opening to the external side of said insulator in which an intermediate portion of said contact element is held, and a sleeve positioned on the other face of said insulating element with the opening in said sleeve being in registry with the openings in said insulator and said insulating element, the inner walls of said sleeve, said insulating element and said insulator which define said openings being generally in end-to-end relationship to provide a generally continuous passageway into which said one end of said contact element extends, and clamp means for retaining said insulator, said insulating element and said sleeve together.

5. A multi-conductor jack comprising an insulator having a central opening therein and one end wall which is substantially normal to the axis of said opening, said insulator having a plurality of slots formed therein extending lengthwise in the inner wall defining said opening, a plurality of contact elements having intermediate portions overlying said one end wall of said insulator in spaced relation to one another with one end of each contact element being external of the insulator for attachment to an electrical conductor and the other end extending into said opening toward the other end of said insulator, each of said other ends being split lengthwise so that at least one lengthwise segment thereof fits into one of said slots and another lengthwise segment is deflected toward the axis of said opening for engagement by a plug, an insulating element having a pair of opposed faces which are substantially normal to the axis of said opening and one of which is positioned on said one end wall of said insulator and over the intermediate portions of said contact elements, said insulating element having an opening in registry with said central opening, said insulator and said one face of said insulating element defining between them a plurality of spaced notches extending outwardly from the radially inner wall of said central opening to the radially outer side of said one insulator end wall in which said intermediate portions are held, and asleeve extending axially away from the other face of said insu1ating element with the opening in said sleeve being in registry with the openings in said insulator and said 11- sulating element, the inner walls of said sleeve, said insulating element and said insulator which define said openings being generally in end-to-end relationship to provide a passageway into which the respective one end of each contact element extends, and clamp means for retaining said insulator, said insulating element and said sleeve together.

6. A multi-conductor jack comprising an insulator having a central axial opening therein and one end wall which is substantially normal to the axis of said opening, said insulator having a plurality of slots formed therein extending lengthwise in the inner wall defining said opening, said end wall of said insulator having a plurality of spaced notches formed therein extending transversely from the radially inner wall to the radially outer wall of the insulator, a plurality of contact elements having intermediate portions fitted into said notches'so as to be generally in a common plane with one end of each contact element extending externally of the insulator for attachment to an electrical conductor and the other end extending into said opening toward the other end of said insulator, each of said other ends being split lengthwise so that at least one lengthwise segment thereof fits into one of said slots and another lengthwise segment is deflected inwardly toward the xais of said opening for engagement by a plug, said inwardly deflected segments being of different lengths so as to be adaptable to engage difierent portions of said plug, an insulating element having a pair of opposed faces one of which is substantially flat and is seated on the notched end Wall of said insulator for retaining said contact elements in place, said insulating element having an opening in registry with said central opening, and a sleeve positioned adjacent and extending axially away from the other face of said insulating element with the opening in said sleeve being in registry with the openings in said insulator and said insulating element, the inner Walls of said sleeve, said insulating element and said insulator which define said openings being generally in end-to-end relationship to provide a passageway into which the respective one end of each contact element extends, and clamp means for retaining said insulator, said insulating element and said sleeve together.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,950,215 Baum Mar. 6, 1934 2,026,420 De Tar Dec. 31, 1935 2,717,367 Puerner Sept. 6, 1955 2,803,717 Sanda Aug. 20, 1957' FOREIGN PATENTS 575,004 Germany Feb. 9, 1934 

